Electric heating



Oct. 6, 1953 H. c. CUNNINGHAM ELECTRIC HEATING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 24, 1949 T2; 4 4 rum mu rIH WUX/UNMV 2. 1 E E FIG-I HARRY C.CUNNINGHAM KNVENTOR ATTORNEY 1953 H. c. CUNNINGHAM 2,654,8 25

ELECTRIC HEATING Filed Sept. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY Q CUNNWGHAMINVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 ELECTRIC HEATING Harry G.Cunningham, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Edwin L. Wiegand Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 24,1949, Serial No. 117,690

8 Claims.

My invention relates to electric heating devices comprising one or moreelectric surface units, including hot plates, ranges, and the like, andthe principal object of my invention is to provide an improved and moreeconomical construction.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, what I nowconsider to be the best modes of carrying my invention into practice,and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one of the selected embodiments;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail View showing the means of holding the shield plateattached to its sup porting arm;

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views showing the means of holding the racesto the spider;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the surface unit inraised position for cleaning the depressed portion of the top plate andthe under portion of the unit; and

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the otherselected embodiment.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 6 includes a top plateH! which may be substantially co-extensive with the relevant portion ofthe hot plate, range, or the like, and cornprises a top portion H andone or more bowlshape depressed portions [2 integral with the topportion H and each adapted to receive at least the lower portion of anelectric surface unit l3 herein shown as comprising two electric heatingelements or races [4 and t5 secured to and supported by a frame orspider resting on and supporting the unit [3 from the upper surface ofthe top plate depressed portion l2.

In the present embodiment the spider 20 comprises a diametrical member2! providing a supporting arm 22 and a leg 23 rounded on the under sideof its outer end, as indicated at 24, to conform to the relevant surfaceof the top plate depressed portion 12, and two side members 25 rivetedor otherwise suitably secured to the diametrical member 2land providinglegs 26'similarly rounded on the under portion of their outer ends andextending at opposite angles of approximately one hundred and twentydegrees from the diametrical member leg 23, wherer by the spider 20rests on the top plate depressed portion [2 at three placessubstantially the apices of an equilateral triangle and the surface unit[3 is afforded substantially equilateral threeoint support.

Cir

As shown additionally in Figures 4 and 5, in the present embodiment theouter race I4 is held to the spider 29 by means of loops 3G engagingover an inwardly directed finger 3| on the diametrical member leg 23 andoutwardly directed fingers 32 on the side member legs 26, and the innerrace I5 is held to the spider directly by a loop 33 engaging over anoutwardly directed finger 34 on the diametrical member leg 23 andindirectly by a shield plate 35 carried by the diametrical member arm 22and closely receiving both the terminal portions 36 of the outer race Mand the terminal portions 31 of the inner race l5, and the various loopsare releasably held engaged over the various fingers by means of a plate38 interposed between the inner race loop 33 and the opposed outer raceloop and itself held in position by means of tongues 39 entering withingthe loop 33 and the respective loop 30.

As shown additionally in Figure 3, the shield plate is supported fromthe arm 22 by means of a reduced extension 40 provided on the end of thearm 22 and extended through a closely fitting aperture 4| in the shieldplate 35 and then wedge-spread or otherwise suitably expanded to holdthe shield plate firmly against shoulders 42 on the arm 22 laterally ofthe extension 40 resulting from the reduced dimension of the extension40.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the terminals 35 and 3! extendthrough an aperture 43 in the top plate depressed portion [2, and thisaperture is sufliciently large to readily permit raising the unit [3 tothe position shown in Figure 6, thus to facilitate cleaning the topplate depressed portion l2 and the under part of the unit [3, or topermit partial movement of the unit l3 sufiicient to withdraw theterminals 44 for the purpose of attaching or removing the respectiveconductors by which power is supplied to the unit, but as appearsparticularly in Figure 2, the shield plate 35 is formed sufiicientlylarge to entirely cover the aperture 43 when the unit is in operatingposition.

With the foregoing the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 6 includesalso means completely preventing any rocking of the unit I3 in thedepressed portion [2, comprising an annular member releasably secured tothe spider 2| by engagement of its upper edge 51 in notches 52 in thelegs 23 and 23 and having its lower portion 53 formed to extend throughand closely engage within a central opening 54 provided in the top platedepressed portion l2, but capable of being withdrawn for movement of theunit $3 to the ing in the central opening 54 in the depressed portion l2in the same manner as the lower por-,- tion 53 of the annular member 50of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6'. 7

From the foregoing it willbe realized'by-those skilled in the art thateither of the illustrated embodiments accomplishes. at least theprincipal object of my invention, and on the other hand,

that various changes and modifications maybe made, and other embodimentsemployed, within thescope of my invention, and'therefore by invention,is not limited to the particular embodiments herein described, andI'claim as my invention:

'1. An electric heating unit comprising, incombination with a top platehaving a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressedportion has a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of anelectric heating element therethrough and a substantially centrallydisposed opening, an electric surface unit including a heating elementmovable into and out of operative'position, laterally extending terminalportions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateralopening in said depressed portion and providing for electricalconnection to saidheating element, a supporting frame for said heatingelement including substantially radially extending legs for carrying theheating element on the top surface thereof and to rest on their bottomsurfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means forsecuring said heating elementto said supporting frame, and a membersecured to and depending from said frame toward said depressed portion,said member being adapted to enter and engage the marginal surface ofthe said substantially centrally disposed opening in said depressedportion on movement of the surface unit into operative position to holdthe surface unit against material lateral movement relative to saiddepressed portion and to be withdrawn from the said opening as thesurface unit is'moved to inoperative position.

2. An electric heating unit comprising, in combination with a top platehaving atop portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portionhas a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of anelectricheating element therethrough and a substantially centrally disposedopening, an electric surface unit including a heating element movableinto and out of operative position, laterally extending terminalportions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateralopening in said depressed portion and providin for electrical conmotionto said heating element, a supporting frame for said heating elementincluding substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heatingelement on the top surface thereof and to rest on their bottom surfaceson the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing saidheating element to said supporting frame, said means including a platesecured to said frame and through which the laterally extendingterminals of said heating element extend, said plate being so arrangedwith respect to the laterally extending terminals of the heating elementand the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield thelateral opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is inoperative position, and a member secured to and depending from saidframe toward said depressed portion, said member being adapted to enterand engage the marginal surface of the said substantially centrallydisposed opening in said dopressed portion when on movement of thesurface unit into operative position to hold the surface-unit againstmaterial lateral movement I relative tosaid depressed portion and to bewithdrawn from the said opening as the surface unit is moveditoinoperative position.

3. An electric heating unit comprising, in combination with a top platehaving a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressedportion has a lateral opening for the passage'of the terminals of anelectric heating. element therethrough' and. a substantially centrallydisposed 'opening, an electric surface unit including a heating elementmovable into and-out of operative position, laterally extendin terminalportions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateralopening in said depressed portion and providing for electricalconnection to said heating element, a supporting frame for said heatingelement including. substantially radially extending legs for carryingthe heating element on the top surface thereof and to rest on theirbottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, meansfor securing said heating element to said: supporting frame, said meansincluding a plate secured to said frame and through which thelaterally-extending terminals of said heating element extend, said platebeing so arranged with respect to the laterally extending terminals ofthe heating element and the heating element supporting frame as to coverand shield the lateral; opening in said depressed portion when thesurface unit is in operative position and to move away from suchcovering and shielding position as the heater element is moved out ofoperative position.

4. In an electric heatin unit comprising a top plate having a topportion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion hasalateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heatingelement therethrough, a heating element movable into and out ofoperative position, laterally extending terminal portions on saidheating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in saiddepressed portion and providing for an electrical connection to saidheating element, and a plate through which the laterally extendingterminal portions of the heating element extend, said plate being inadvance of the lateral opening through the depressed portion and sopositioned with respect to the laterally extending terminal portions ofthe heating element as to cover and shield the lateral openin in thesaid depressed portion when the heating element is in operative positionand to move away from such covering and shielding position as theheating element is moved out of operative position.

5. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a topportion and a depressed por tion, and which depressed portion has alateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heatingelement therethrough, a heating element movable into and out ofoperative position, laterally extending terminal portions on saidheating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in saiddepressed portion and providing an electrical connection to said heatingelement, a supporting frame for said heating element, and means forsecuring said heating element to said supporting frame, said meansincluding a plate secured to said frame and through which the laterallyextending terminals of the heating element extend, said plate being soarranged with respect to the laterally extending terminals of theheating element and the heating element supporting frame as to cover andshield the lateral opening in said depressed portion when theheatingelement is in operative position and to move away from suchcovering and shielding position as the heating element is moved out ofoperative position.

6. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a topportion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has alateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heatingelement therethrough, a heating element movable into and out ofoperative position, laterally extending terminal portions on saidheating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in saiddepressed portion and providing an electrical connection to said heatingelement, a supporting frame for said heating element, includingsubstantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating elementon the top surface thereof, and means for securing said heating elementto said supporting frame, said means including a plate secured to one ofthe legs of said frame and through which the laterally extendingterminals of the heating element extend, said plate being so arrangedwith respect to the laterally extendin terminals of the heating elementand the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield thelateral opening in said depressed portion when the heating element is inoperative position and to move out of such covering and shieldingposition as the heating element is moved out of operative position.

7. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a topportion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has asubstantially centrally disposed opening therein, an electric surfaceunit including a heating element and a supporting frame for said heatingelement, said supporting frame including substantially radiallyextending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surfacethereof and to loosely rest on their bottom surfaces on the uppersurface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heatingelement to said supporting frame, and a member secured to and dependingfrom said frame toward said depressed portion, said member being adaptedto enter and engage the marginal surface of said substantially centrallydisposed opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is inoperative position to hold the surface unit against material lateralmovement relative to said depressed portion and to be withdrawn fromsaid openingas the surface unit is removed from operative position.

8. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a topportion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has asubstantially centrally disposed opening therein, an electric surfaceunit including a heatin element and a supporting frame for said heatingelement, said supporting frame including substantially radiallyextending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surfacethereof and to loosely rest on their bottom surfaces on the uppersurface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heatingelement to said supportin frame, and means depending from said frame andextending into the said substantially centrally disposed opening in saiddepressed portion when the surface unit is in operative position to holdthe surface unit against material lateral movement relative to saiddepressed portion, said last named means including a plurality offingers extending downwardly from said legs and arranged to engage theperiphery of said opening.

HARRY C. CUNNINGHAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,998,308 Causse Apr. 16, 1935 2,145,684 Calhoun June 31, 19392,262,507 Lightfoot Nov. 11, 1941 2,392,692 Price Jan. 8, 1946 2,399,423Bletz Apr. 30, 1946 2,413,477 Wiegand Dec. 31, 1946 2,442,659 McCormickJune 1, 1948 2,506,554 Tuttle May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 29,714 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1913 143,719 Austria Nov. 25, 1935405,594 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1934 443,494 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1936618,177 Germany Sept. 8, 1935 627,122 Great Britain July 28, 1949823,439 France Jan. 20, 1938

